NDSU, North Dakota, Omaha Advance to Summit League Semis

Sioux Falls, S.D. - North Dakota State, North Dakota, and Omaha advanced to the semifinals of the Summit League men's basketball tournament Friday night at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, setting up intriguing matchups against top seeds in a bid for the conference title.

In the first quarterfinal, top-seeded North Dakota State held off Oral Roberts 76-65 on Thursday evening, marking the Bison's first first-round tournament win in three years. Damari Wheeler-Thomas led North Dakota State with 18 points, while Trevian Carson added 17. The Bison built a 36-26 halftime lead by forcing 11 turnovers from the Golden Eagles, who entered the game on a four-game winning streak. North Dakota State extended the advantage early in the second half, though Oral Roberts closed to within five points midway through the period. A key 3-pointer by Wheeler-Thomas halted the rally, and the Bison maintained control from there, limiting Oral Roberts to just two field goals over a 3:40 stretch. "That kind of calmed the waters, that was a big play in the game," Bison coach Dave Richman said. Carson noted the team's defensive focus on disrupting Oral Roberts guard Ty Harper, who had scored 47 points in...